When Faith & Life Collide

Romans 12:9: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? But when you start trying to determine what is good & what is evil, it makes the verse a little harder to follow. As Christians, we are to run from evil & do good, but we have trouble sometimes seeing what really is right & wrong (or black & white). Other times we struggle dealing with topics because the Bible simple isn’t black & white in dealing with them.

How does our faith impact the choices we make - especially the difficult ones? What do you do when you face an issue that is a gray issue? Here are a series of questions that might help you step through these kinds of areas in your life.

1. Black & White, Gray, or None of the Above?
   Is this REALLY a gray area, or is it a Biblical absolute, or just a preference?

   Some things that we think are ‘gray’ are really Biblical absolutes, and some things we think are Biblical absolutes are really ‘gray.’ Take the issues and look at what the Bible says or doesn’t say about it & related issues. Does the Bible specifically address them? Can we apply principles from the Bible to them?

2. Personal Conviction Based on rational Biblical thinking, is this issue right or wrong for me?

   Once you know what the Bible says about an issue & related issues, we must then decide what our own personal conviction is based on what we’ve learned. Again, this is based on Biblical values, not our own desires. We don’t condone/convict something just because of personal preference. Paul deals with these kinds of choices in Romans 14:14—”I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.” If you can’t do something without having doubts about it, you shouldn’t do it. (Romans 14:23)

3. Brotherly Concern
   Consider how your actions will affect a less mature Christian.

   Once we’ve decided how we feel about a certain issue (based on what we’ve learned from Scripture), we must then consider how our fellow Christians might respond to this issue. Ask yourself: “Will I hurt another Christian’s spiritual growth by doing this?” Just because we CAN do something doesn’t mean that we SHOULD - consider who you influence. Paul addresses this, as well, in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24: “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ - but not everything is helpful. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ - but not everything is beneficial. Don’t think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.” Where is the diving line for brotherly concern? You’ll always offend someone by the choices you make. Some decisions out of brotherly concern will be life choices - others will be momentary choices.

4. Ultimate Accountability
   Consider how you will give account for this issue one day before Christ.

   The Bible teaches us that we will be held responsible one day for everything we do and don’t do in this life. Romans 14:10-12 says,”So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’ Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”

5. Brotherly Love
   Maintaining unity in the midst of diversity.

   The possibilities of things that we, as Christians, could have different convictions on are pretty large. Our tendency sometimes is to think that everyone else should feel exactly the same way about what we believe. When we realize that this isn’t reality, we must strive to maintain unity & love, even with those we disagree with. Christian love should always be a common denominator.